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Guarantors

All applications must be signed by a guarantor. A guarantor is a person who can confirm your identity or that of your child.

Duties of a guarantor

Your guarantor must perform the following tasks free of charge:

1. Certify the information on the application form by completing and signing the "Declaration of Guarantor" section.
2. Write on the back of one of your or your child's photos, "I certify this to be a true likeness of (your or your child's name)" and sign.
3. If applicable, sign and date the photocopy of your supplementary documentation.

Eligible guarantors for Canadian residents

Your guarantor must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada and must be accessible to Passport Canada for verification.
2. Have known you personally for at least two years.
3. Be included in one of the following groups:
• Chiropractor
• Geoscientists of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec
• Judge, magistrate
• Lawyer (member of a provincial bar association), notary in Quebec
• Mayor
• Medical doctor or dentist
• Minister of religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
• Notary public
• Optometrist
• Person occupying a senior administrative position in a community college (includes CEGEP)
• Pharmacist
• Police officer (municipal, provincial or RCMP)
• Postmaster
• Principal of a primary or secondary school
• Professional accountant (member of APA, CA, CGA, CMA, PA, RPA)
• Professional engineer (P.Eng., Eng. in Quebec.)
• Senior administrator or teacher in a university
• Veterinarian

Retired guarantors are not eligible unless still registered in their professional association.

Eligible guarantors for Canadians residing in the United States

Your guarantor must:

1. Be a citizen of Canada or the United States and must be accessible to Passport Canada for verification.
2. Have known you personally for at least two years.
3. Be included in one of the following groups:
   • Chiropractor
   • Dentist
   • Judge
   • Lawyer
   • Magistrate
   • Medical doctor
   • Notary public
   • Pharmacist
   • Police officer
   • Signing officer of a bank or trust company, or of a financial institution that offers the full range of banking services (cash withdrawals, deposits and savings)
   • Veterinarian

Eligible guarantors for Canadians residing outside Canada and the United States

Your guarantor must:

1. Have known you personally for at least two years.
2. Be included in one of the following groups:
   • Dentist
   • Judge
   • Lawyer
   • Magistrate
   • Medical doctor
   • Notary public
   • Police officer
   • Signing officer of a bank
   • Mayor

Declaration in lieu of guarantor

If you have not known an eligible guarantor for at least two years, complete form PPT 132  "Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" available from any Passport Canada office.

The "Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" form must be sworn or declared before, and signed by, a person authorized by law to administer an oath or solemn affirmation. If completed outside Canada, a qualified official includes a Canadian or British diplomatic or consular representative, or a qualified local official.